(UPDATE: Officials confirm the vehicle was found Monday evening. No other details are currently available)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen pickup. A 2018 Black Chevy 3500 Diesel Crewcab was stolen from Fernwood Avenue in Red Oak on Sunday night at about 10:00 p.m.

If anyone has any information about the stolen truck, please call Montgomery County Crime-Stoppers at 888-434-2712.

(Radio Iowa) – The state of Iowa recently received a payment of nearly 53 million dollars from the tobacco companies involved in the 1998 settlement agreement. The spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General, Lynn Hicks, says the payments are made every April. “We’re up now to one-point-three-six billion dollars that has come into the state as a result of the settlement with the tobacco companies,” Hicks says. The state sold bonds based on the settlement to get money up front and uses the payments each year to pay bondholders. Hicks says that’s what will happen this year.

“The bulk of this — about 78 percent — goes to those bondholders who bought the bonds issued by the Tobacco Settlement authority…the rest. including 11-point-six-million dollars this year goes into the state’s general fund. So it’s up to the legislature and the governor as to how that money will be spent,” according to Hicks. He says they worked with the State Treasurer recently to refinance the bonds.

“So as a result the state is going to save some money. About 176 million dollars over the life of the bonds,” Hicks says. The settlement also created restrictions on the advertising, marketing, and promotion of cigarettes, including a ban on targeting children through advertising. Hicks says those efforts to cut smoking have had success.

He says 24 percent of U-S adults smoked at the time of the settlement, and we are now down to around 14 percent. Iowa and 45 other states were part of the settlement, and Hicks says the state will continue getting payments as long as the tobacco companies continue selling cigarettes.

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 6-p.m. Wednesday, April 28th, in the High School Media Center, and via YouTube. On their agenda is:

• A Special Presentation on the Home School Assistance Program
• Action on the following resignations: Rachel Larsen, Kindergarten Teacher; Denise Sharp, Paraeducator; Shannon Hayden, Food Service, and Wynter Waltz, Food Service.
• The Board will act on Contract Recommendations for: Michelle Fritz, MS Spec. Ed. Teacher; Cheryl Andersen, ESL Teacher/Coordinator; Terry Hinzmann, Summer School Supervisor, and Bob Gross, Volunteer Softball Coach.

The Board will also act on proposal requests, with regard to the Athletic Facilities Improvement Project, including matters pertaining to the High School Fence, and Baseball/Softball Lettering. At the conclusion of regular business, the Board will adjourn into a closed session for Superintendent Steve Barber’s annual evaluation.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. On Saturday, Deputies responded to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 59, north of Shenandoah. During the investigation, 48-year-old Aaron Dean Bennett , of Nebraska City, NE was arrested for interference with Official Acts. Bennett was transported to the Page County Jail.

During the booking process at the jail, Bennett was additionally charged with: Assault on a person in certain Occupations, and Assault with intent to commit sex abuse. He was being held on a $7,000 cash-only bond, pending future court appearances.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the accident. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted at the scene of the accident.

Wells, Steven W.

And, on Monday, April 26th, Deputies in Page County arrested 51-year-old Steven William Wells, of College Springs, on three Page County warrants, with a cash-only bond totaling $30,000. The warrants charge Wells with:

• Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Eluding Speed 25mph over second or subsequent offense
• Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Driving while Barred habitual offender
• and Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Driving while barred

Wells was arrested at the Page County Courthouse without incident and transported to the Page County Jail.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday, reported two recent arrests. At around 3-a.m. Saturday, 27-year-old Matthew Ray Garcia, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop in Orient. Upon investigation, an Adair County Deputy observed many opened “Shooter”-sized bottles of whiskey scattered throughout the rear of the car. Some of the bottles still contained alcohol. The Deputy also observed Garcia’s eyes were bloodshot and watery. Based on those clues and a Breath Alcohol Test, Garcia was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was released later in the day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, Friday evening, 18-year-old Kason Eugene Hulett, of Lenox, was arrested at the Taylor County Jail, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Violation of Probation. Hulett was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Police in Atlantic, Monday (Today), provided additional information with regard to a chain-reaction accident that took place at around 3:15-p.m., Friday. Authorities say a vehicle driven by Todd Askeland, of Atlantic, was traveling on Highway 6 (7th Street) and approaching Hazel Street, when his vehicle was struck from behind, by a vehicle driven by Gary Meurer, of Atlantic. The collision occurred when Meurer’s vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Jeanna Kramer, of Atlantic, causing the Meurer vehicle to be pushed forward.

The accident happened as all three vehicles were traveling eastbound. Askeland complained of pain/possible injury, but denied transport to the hospital. Kramer was transported to CCMH for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Damage from the collisions amounted to $9,000. Police cited Kramer for Failure to Maintain a reasonable or proper speed.